Route 9A Project Director Joseph Brown has overseen work since late 2007

The West Side Highway sees more traffic than almost any other New York City boulevard, connecting not just the boroughs, but the entire region. Downtown, it is also an arterial that thousands of pedestrians cross every day to get to and from Battery Park City from the rest of Lower Manhattan.

As a state highway, Route 9A -- or West Street, as it’s known locally -- has been under reconstruction by the New York State Department of Transportation (SDOT) since late 2004. The project first phase, called “Promenade South,” was completed in 2006 from Battery Place up to West Thames, where residents and workers welcomed the new, spacious tree-lined esplanade, dedicated walkway/bikeway, and rehabilitated Battery Park Underpass. In 2007, “Segment 2” of the Promenade South project began, extending that beautification and infrastructure work up to Chambers Street.

SDOT Route 9A Project Director Joseph Brown has overseen the $189 million project since December 2007. He and his team have just about completed the extensive rebuilding work on the upper portion, from Vesey to Chambers -- and pedestrians and motorists are now enjoying its newly landscaped esplanade and plazas, as well as safer crosswalks. Likewise for areas of the southern section, south of Albany -- though infrastructure and cosmetic improvements there continue through mid-2010.

Mr. Brown’s focus now involves much coordination with the Port Authority, as it continues heavy World Trade Center (WTC) construction next to and in West Street. His agency is modifying the Liberty Street Pedestrian Bridge for the Port, allowing its South Bathtub excavation to proceed. SDOT also is coordinating excavation and construction across West Street at Fulton, where the Port is building the underground concourse that will link the WTC and World Financial Center -- a project that the Port now hopes to open ahead of schedule in 2012, to replace the Vesey Street Bridge.

We asked Mr. Brown three questions about the various sub-projects within the Promenade South purview, and what the community can look forward to in the near future.

How will the reconfiguration of the Liberty Street Bridge affect SDOT’s planned work in that area?

The new Liberty Street Bridge extension is scheduled to open in April 2010

Mr. Brown: Due to the bridge being reconfigured to extend down the median of West Street SDOT will not be able to complete median work between Albany and Liberty Streets, including the low-profile barrier, plantings, trees, lights, etc. until the pedestrian bridge extension is removed. But we were able to accelerate some critical bridge utility work on the east side of the roadway before we built the new bridge piers.

Due to utility work, the area of West Street beside the WTC site is now expected to conclude about four years later than originally planned.  What can pedestrians expect conditions between Albany and Vesey to be like over the next few years?

While construction is ongoing in the vicinity of the WTC site, it is paramount to maintain safe crossings for pedestrians along Route 9A. The following pedestrian crossings will be available at the WTC site:

• Vesey Street – The Vesey Street Bridge will remain open and serve as a “grade-separated” (above traffic) crossing until the Port Authority’s proposed pedestrian concourse underneath Route 9A is opened (currently scheduled for December 2012). In addition, discussions are ongoing with the city and Port Authority concerning opening an at-grade crosswalk on the north side of Vesey Street.
  
• Liberty Street – The Liberty Street Bridge will remain open and serve as a grade-separated crossing over Route 9A. While construction of the Vehicle Security Center (VSC) is underway, the new extension will be added to the bridge, with its landing on the east side of Route 9A, north of the Albany Street intersection near Cedar Street.
  
• Albany Street – One at-grade crosswalk is currently in place at the Albany Street intersection, until reconstruction of West Thames Park is complete and both crosswalks will be open. While it’s possible that the north crosswalk may be closed temporarily due to construction in the area, the permanent south crosswalk has been installed and will remain available at all times.

What benefits to the local community are already in place on West Street, and which are soon to come?

Our current Lower Manhattan project runs from West Thames Street to Chambers Street. We are wrapping up work north and south of the WTC this year -- that is, West Thames to Albany, and Vesey to Chambers. These sections will give the community, traveling public, and visitors the high level of urban design envisioned for Lower Manhattan along West Street at the intersections, promenade, and bikeway.

Route 9A work is scheduled to conclude north of the WTC site this year

This spring, the community will also enjoy the newly renovated West Thames Park with its community gardens, shade arbor, expanded play areas, enhanced plantings, water features, and dog run -- along with the adjacent rebuilt bikeway and walkway. On the east side of Route 9A, the sidewalk work from 30 West Street to 90 West Street (JP Ward to Cedar Street) is also currently under construction and nearing completion.